Head coach Ruben Amorim says that switching Manchester United's formation due to external pressure would have signaled "his demise" for him.
In a first against Newcastle, Amorim ditched his usual back three setup with wing-backs and chose to use an orthodox back four shielded by two defensive midfielders.
By his own admission this effectively became a back six in the latter phase as his side clung on for a crucial result - securing just their second-ever shutout of the campaign.
Despite he once famously stated that not even the highest authority could pressure him to change his system, Amorim insists the capacity to play with varied setups has consistently been part of his plan.
Yet, he clarifies he could solely make the switch when his team were performing at an acceptable level - or else it would appear as if he was succumbing to external criticism.
"When I came here last season, I understood perhaps I didn't possess the squad to perform effectively in that formation, but it was the beginning of a journey," he stated.
"Our aim was to build an philosophy. Currently is a distinct moment. We are missing a full complement of players, and we have to adapt, so they see why we are making changes.
"This isn't because of the influence of you guys, or the fans.
"When you talk about altering the system constantly, I cannot make a change because the squad will understand I'm changing because of external voices and I believe that is a disaster for the manager.
"Once we are getting results in our system, that becomes the moment to evolve.
"We will become a more complete side because when our full complement of players are back, we are not planning to play with a back three exclusively."
Squad Challenges Loom Large
Having only two wins in their last eight outings prior to beating Newcastle, it is arguable whether Amorim is accurate to claim his team have been playing well.
He is, however, operating with a injury-ravaged roster, with multiple senior players already unavailable for the upcoming home game against winless Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That total will rise if playmaker Mason Mount is unable to shake off the knock that led to his withdrawal from the Newcastle game at half-time.
Captain Bruno Fernandes is among those who will miss the Wolves clash, even though he is understood to be pressing his manager to allow him to return following his muscle problem.
"Bruno is already insisting he has to practice," revealed Amorim. "However there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No way. That's definitive."
Fernandes' Influence Is Unwavering
However, the 31-year-old will likely still be a prominent presence, as while most unavailable stars watch matches from a private box, Fernandes was observed keeping a close eye on the pre-match routines from the mouth of the tunnel before the Newcastle game.
Amorim anticipates his captain to carry on offering insight.
"The guy is a leader," he declared. "He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he's not talking and offering advice. He's constantly vocal. That's why he's the captain.
"There are flaws sometimes - his mannerisms he gesticulates - but he has a lot of positive qualities. Even after he finishes treatment, he heads to observe the other guys practicing. There are a lot of things that go unnoticed.
"I'm not sure if he desires my job or not, but he's a born leader. He is a leader."
Return Timeline for Injured Personnel
While the precise timeline for the captain's comeback - and that of fellow unavailable players like Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt, and Harry Maguire - remains unknown, by the end of January, United will welcome back Noussair Mazraoui, Amad Diallo, and Bryan Mbeumo from international competition.
